Christine Fitzgerald Dog Training

29/10/2024

26/09/2024

Meet Murphy – an 8 week old tiny shih-tzu who is too cute for words!

I’ve just done Murphy’s in home training session where we covered off an absolute ton of exercises that his mum can be working on over the next few weeks while she is waiting for him to be fully vaccinated.  There are huge benefits to starting your puppy training as early as possible as you have a clean slate with a puppy who hasn’t developed any bad habits and you can get them straight into good habits.  You have the added benefit of being able to keep them stimulated with training during the difficult few weeks when they aren’t going on walks.  Murphy will be starting his outside training in a few weeks so watch out for pupdates.

25/09/2024

Meet Otis, a handsome and cheeky 8 month old Whippet

Otis did some training when he was younger, but now he is becoming a teenager, he has seemingly forgotten everything he has learned.  Where he was good off lead, his dad has stopped letting him off because his recall has become a bit hit and miss.  He has also developed a habit of jumping up to greet people, and he likes to jump up at the table when the family are eating.  We have done some in-home training to work on the jumping up and a few other things.  We are hoping to get him out to the park next week to start rebuilding his recall and work on his loose lead walking.

🐾❤️🐾

23/09/2024

Meet Lofty, a 3 year old Toy Poodle

Lofty has recently been adopted by his forever family.  He spent 3 years with his previous family, who weren’t able to walk him much, so he hasn’t done a lot of socialising.  Because of this, Lofty becomes very focussed on dogs when he is out, and it is difficult to get his attention.  We have been doing loads of socialising with him and teaching him engagement techniques, so he learns to check in with his mum and dad in order to get permission to go and see dogs.  This has been working well, and they feel they are getting lots more engagement from Lofty on walks.  We still have lots of work to do, but this boy is making great progress.

21/09/2024

Meet Star, a little Shih Tzu/Maltese puppy whose name says it all

Star is just at the beginning of her puppy training journey.  We have done an in-home session where we put a big focus on her puppy biting which was off the scale.  This is now much more manageable and we have started working on her socialising and recall training.  She is making great strides really quickly – watch out for a pupdate once she has graduated!

16/09/2024

Meet Tyson, 2 year old Vizsla with attitude!

Tyson (the smooth one) and his gorgeous sister Talulah (the shaggy one) started out being really social and great off the lead, but after an incident where Tyson pounced unexpectedly at another dog, his mum got scared and stopped letting him off the lead.  He is a real lead puller and is very strong so he has become very difficult to walk.  As a result of this, he has walked less and seen less dogs, which in turn has increased his reactivity when he does see one.  We have just started working together and laid some foundations for his loose lead walking, and put some activities in place to reduce his over arousal.  We are going to start getting him out to a quiet park in a couple of weeks to begin the process of re-socialising him.  Watch out for pupdates as his progresses through his training.

15/09/2024

Meet Oschi, the tiniest Toy Poodle ever!           

Oschi has just completed her in home and her socialising sessions.  She was so nervous when I came around to see her and it took her absolutely ages to warm up to having a stranger in her home.  When we got to the park, she was nervous of all people she met, but especially children who she was growling at.  We spent half an hour just letting her find out about the world and everything in it at her own pace, and using a long line so she was able to scarper away from anything she didn’t like the look of.  The end result was Oschi sitting and being petted by children and playing with other dogs.  She had a great time, and we are hoping to move on to her recall training next week if she continues to build on her new found confidence.

14/09/2024

Puppy & Adult Dog Gtoup Training Classes starting in October. Message me to register your interest. Limited to 6 per class, Sunday mornings

13/09/2024

Meet Dolly, the tiniest little Frenchie ever!

Dolly has just completed her in home training session as her mum and nan couldn’t take any more of her puppy biting – for such a tiny pup, she can pack an almighty bite!  Another Frenchie is often at their home and the two of them together cause havoc.  We did a few training exercises with both the girls to give them something positive to do and at the same time, gives them an opportunity to earn themselves a few treats.  Both girls did really well with the training, and after just a few days the biting has already reduced giving the family’s wounds a chance to heal!!

12/09/2024

Pupdate:  Louis

Who remembers this handsome dude?  When I last posted, Louis was causing havoc at home and driving everyone mad with his biting and chewing.  He has now graduated from puppy classes and is the most chilled out, well rounded little dude!  He gets on well with other dogs, has great recall and is much calmer at home.  He has learned how to do an emergency stop and is working on engagement exercises like hand touch and middle – well done Louis!

11/09/2024

Pupdate:  Candy

Who remembers this little beauty?  Candy came to me as she needed help with her confidence.  She didn’t like children and barked at them when she saw them outside.  She also did a lot of resource guarding of toys, food, people and locations.  We have done quite a lot of work with Candy, and I’m delighted to report that all of the reported issues have now been resolved.  She is comfortable around children now and actually spends time at home with friends children playing with them.  She is no longer guarding and we have gotten her barking down to manageable levels.  She is now just barking when she wants to play, and we have put some measures in place to teach Candy a new way of asking rather than barking.  Well done Candy, gold star to you!

 

09/09/2024

Meet Maisie – a ball of fluff masquerading as a dog!

Maisie is halfway through her puppy training, and has been gradually building up her confidence with the outside world.  When we began, she was very nervous of other dogs, but the more she has socialised, the more confident she has become.  She is still not 100% confident yet, but much more than she was.  She has also started her recall training and is acing that.  Her mum was so nervous about starting Maisie’s recall training at the park, but having seen how good Maisie was, she is now feeling a lot more confident.  We will continue building Maisie’s confidence and recall over the next couple of weeks so watch out for another pupdate and a video of her running around off lead!

08/09/2024

Meet Willow, a 4 year old Frenchie with attitude

Willow was rehomed at the age of 3, growing up during lockdown and not getting used to people coming in and out of her home.  Once she settled into her new home, she quickly showed a tendency to see off any ‘stranger’ who appeared at the door.  There were a couple of incidents where she nipped people, leading her mum to keep her away from visitors.  She also doesn’t seem to have been socialised with other dogs so we have drawn up a plan to help her with all of these issues.  We have already put in place some strategies to help her see visitors in a more positive light, and we will begin working on her social skills next week.  Pupdate to follow!

07/09/2024

Meet Lottie, the cutest Yorkie puppy ever!!

Lottie has just done some in home training targeting her nipping, toilet training and barking.  She is flying in all areas and picked everything up super fast.  We have also just got her out for her first socialising and recall training session and this girl totally surprised her mum by being really confident around dogs despite her tiny size, and learning her recall cues in a flash – go Lottie! 

 

04/09/2024

Meet Elsie – a beautiful little bundle of gorgeousness

Elsie is an 8 week old Cavalier King Charles puppy.  She is Grace’s first dog, and Grace is already besotted with her.  We have done her first training session at home to get her on the right track, and she aced all of the exercises we set for her.  It will be a few weeks before she is ready for her outdoor training, but be prepared for a pupdate when she does!!

02/09/2024

Meet Benson, a gorgeous 7 month old lab/Shepherd cross

Benson hasn’t had much opportunity to socialise with other dogs so far as the place he is usually walked is very quiet.  As a result, he has started being a bit reactive when he sees other dogs, and his dad wants to nip that in the bud before he gets any bigger.  We started doing some socialising with Benson, and he is so far doing really well.  He is learning doggy etiquette and has been able to have a few good interactions and even some playtime.  We have also been working on his recall and his emergency stop, as well as his reflex to name.  He still has a way to go, but I’m really pleased with how this lovely boy is progressing.

30/08/2024

Meet Sadie, a sassy show cocker spaniel who likes to be the centre of attention

Sadie’s mum and dad have to go out to work a few days a week, and she is looked after by relatives.  When she is with her mum and dad, she is very demanding of their attention.  She has realised that when her mum picks up her phone, it means she isn’t going to be the focus of her attention, so she jumps on her and mouths until the phone goes away.  If her mum is on a call either on her phone or her laptop, Sadie will just bark until the call ends!  We have started the process of creating new associations for Sadie when her mum is using her phone, and so far she seems to be doing well with it.  They are going to practise for a couple of weeks and we will see where she is at.  We are also going to get her out for some recall training, so I’ll post a pupdate when she starts that.